{"generated_at": "2026-04-22T21:24:25.148634Z", "slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "name": "Today, Explained", "episode_count": 7, "avg_signal": 69.6, "median_signal": 67.9, "top_signal": 74.7, "latest_episode_at": "2026-04-20T18:00:00Z", "earliest_episode_at": "2026-04-13T18:00:00Z", "category_mode": "news", "cover_image_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/70b39176-d05c-11f0-a63b-07dcbb5bee96/image/7b63edf6defbea355b3e74cb46a66257.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "rank_score": 141.192, "episodes": [{"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_ed23e8ef16e2", "episode_title": "The case for holy war", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-20T18:00:00Z", "overall_score": 74.7, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 73.3, "originality": 56.0, "hype_penalty": 2.4, "actionability": 99.0, "technical_depth": 61.0, "information_density": 76.2}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/70b39176-d05c-11f0-a63b-07dcbb5bee96/image/7b63edf6defbea355b3e74cb46a66257.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP9948797108.mp3?updated=1776866313", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP9948797108.mp3?updated=1776866313", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of would, right, trump, including: And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother.", "summary": "Secretary of defense Pete Hegseth has been talking about the war in Iran in distinctly biblical terms, citing psalms, the resurrection of Jesus, and the book of Quentin. President Trump is comparing himself to Christ."}, {"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_749562b7b915", "episode_title": "How to fight burnout", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-19T12:00:00Z", "overall_score": 64.7, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 66.5, "originality": 51.9, "hype_penalty": 3.0, "actionability": 91.0, "technical_depth": 46.0, "information_density": 63.3}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/62e4d46e-d05d-11f0-9f07-8fce00ea372c/image/310e1f657fa9c317f6ad4f6b9fbd6733.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP8744577742.mp3?updated=1776373058", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP8744577742.mp3?updated=1776373058", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of burnout, like, know, including: Vibing to the hook of your favorite song, stepping outside and immediately feeling the sun on your face, sipping a refreshing drink.", "summary": "Vibing to the hook of your favorite song, stepping outside and immediately feeling the sun on your face, sipping a refreshing drink. It's the flavors you know and love."}, {"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_b7809c478d42", "episode_title": "Why both sides fail on immigration", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-18T12:00:00Z", "overall_score": 67.9, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 51.3, "originality": 61.5, "hype_penalty": 2.1, "actionability": 67.0, "technical_depth": 68.5, "information_density": 81.7}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/ee286c18-f621-11f0-ade4-974f6ee9f696/image/7727621cf95315fc099856af58f1f804.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP4707196656.mp3?updated=1776464048", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP4707196656.mp3?updated=1776464048", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of think, people, like, including: We're gonna have strong borders.", "summary": "So immigration used to be one of Donald Trump's strongest issues."}, {"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_6d3d17068d47", "episode_title": "The secret soundtrack to your life", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-17T18:18:00Z", "overall_score": 67.8, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 55.1, "originality": 47.4, "hype_penalty": 5.1, "actionability": 91.0, "technical_depth": 68.5, "information_density": 82.5}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/722ef8f6-d05c-11f0-a63b-47011d749c74/image/2f446c5b3907a5f19c98665619f02fea.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP9084497559.mp3?updated=1776450144", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP9084497559.mp3?updated=1776450144", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of music, like, it's, including: You know from where it originates?.", "summary": "You know this piece of music. It's called Frolic and it's composed by Luciano Michelini."}, {"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_8e3ca487d9db", "episode_title": "No ceasefire for Lebanon", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-15T18:30:00Z", "overall_score": 71.8, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 70.2, "originality": 47.8, "hype_penalty": 4.2, "actionability": 51.0, "technical_depth": 91.0, "information_density": 100.0}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/71725b88-d05c-11f0-a63b-c7ed5370f0dd/image/978f0ac662376266900bbd688a49f2e6.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP4435394079.mp3?updated=1776277822", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP4435394079.mp3?updated=1776277822", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of lebanon, hezbollah, time, including: And before you get your hopes up, no ceasefire yet.", "summary": "Israel and Lebanon met in Washington DC on Tuesday to talk about peace. But it was still a big historic moment because Lebanon and Israel hadn't met one on one to hash out their ish in decades."}, {"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_a08aa07da4e7", "episode_title": "The Great American Tax Revolt", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-14T18:00:00Z", "overall_score": 66.4, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 58.7, "originality": 45.7, "hype_penalty": 2.7, "actionability": 75.0, "technical_depth": 53.5, "recency_relevance": 88.0, "information_density": 70.0}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/70ede0e2-d05c-11f0-a63b-8ba4c3091dc8/image/3fea6cef2230acecab625fe006c97dc4.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5277997478.mp3?updated=1776186245", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5277997478.mp3?updated=1776186245", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of taxes, property, know, including: Until the Pentagon passes one damn audit, we shouldn't pay any more taxes.", "summary": "So we're not paying taxes this year. Until the Pentagon passes one damn audit, we shouldn't pay any more taxes."}, {"episode_id": "ep_today_explained_c18e752c869c", "episode_title": "No deal", "podcast_name": "Today, Explained", "podcast_slug": "today_explained", "source_id": "src_today_explained", "category": "news", "publish_date": "2026-04-13T18:00:00Z", "overall_score": 74.0, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 82.0, "originality": 68.0, "actionability": 45.0, "technical_depth": 78.0, "recency_relevance": 95.0, "information_density": 76.0}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/709f648a-d05c-11f0-a63b-abbcf971e1f8/image/44ce69cd01a1723871cf1b3902732cab.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress", "source_link": "https://www.vox.com/todayexplained", "audio_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP1658875282.mp3?updated=1776102673", "listen_url": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP1658875282.mp3?updated=1776102673", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It delivers a clear, critical assessment of a major diplomatic failure with real geopolitical consequences, grounded in expert analysis and recent developments.", "summary": "The episode analyzes the failed US-Iran nuclear negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, detailing their unconventional diplomatic approach and lack of progress. It highlights Iran's demands\u2014sanctions relief, control of the Strait of Hormuz, US military withdrawal\u2014and assesses strategic costs to US alliances, military capacity, and global nonproliferation efforts. Former diplomat Wendy Sherman argues the US emerged weaker from the conflict despite Iran's damaged military infrastructure."}], "category_breakdown": [{"category": "news", "count": 7}]}